Larimer County proposed budget looks to future

With a fiscal cliff expected in 2015, commissioners aim to cut spending by $8 to $10 million over the next three years

By Jessica Maher Reporter-Herald Staff Writer

Posted:
11/19/2012 08:39:40 PM MST

FORT COLLINS -- About a dozen people attended a public hearing here Monday on the Larimer County proposed 2013 budget and the $10 million in cuts the county faces over the next three years.

The commissioners have presented a $222.5 million net operating budget for 2013, which is 1.2 percent less than the budget adopted for 2012. With a fiscal cliff expected in 2015 when the criminal justice tax expires, commissioners aim to cut spending by $8 to $10 million over the next three years.

"This is really the first of a three-year cycle of budgets," county manager Linda Hoffman said. "Our plan is that we don't want to be surprised in 2015. We want to have adjusted our spending incrementally."

During the 2011 general election, voters chose not to approve an extension of the criminal justice tax. Fort Collins resident Sidna Rachid, who spoke to commissioners about her wish for the county to invest in mental health treatment, said she interpreted that vote as a wish for the county not to invest as much in the county jail.

Instead, it's been proposed that cuts come across all departments, with an emphasis on pubic safety, the largest chunk of the total budget at 20.2 percent.

"I haven't seen a discussion of how to get county jail expenses down," Rachid said. "All I hear is public safety's going to suffer."

Fort Collins resident Eric Sutherix agreed with Rachid that he did not believe that the defeated criminal justice tax was a signal that residents were unwilling to pay for county services. He urged commissioners to focus on increasing revenue in the budget, including embracing the taxation of marijuana with the passage of Amendment 64.

"I just really think we need to do a much better job of evolving the revenue picture," Sutherix said.

Departments have been tasked with finding ways to cut costs, with recommendations including voluntary staff reductions. Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith, whose department faces a decrease of just more than $1 million, has voiced concern about cuts that could amount to 70 employees from his department, including deputies and wildfires.

The sheriff and commissioners recently reached an agreement to avoid cutting deputies. Smith has proposed a series of changes and restructuring over the coming months to cut costs. If anticipated savings do not materialize, the commissioners have committed to work with the sheriff's office through 2013.

Commissioner Steve Johnson said he views the three-year budget proposal as a menu of possibilities and could always be changed if economic conditions improve. With a goal of saving $3 million per year, much of the savings for 2013 comes from unspent funds in department's budgets.

"I think citizens in this first year will probably not see significant changes in the service levels," he said.

That may not be the case for 2014 and 2015.

"We eventually will have to do less with less revenue," commissioner Lew Gaiter said.

Those who could not attend the final public hearing on the 2013 budget may submit comments by email at BOCC@larimer.org.

A hearing to adopt the 2013 budget will be held at 2 p.m. on Dec. 20 in the Larimer